The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1887-04-15
THE SALARIES AND THE SCHOOLS.

In another column il an articls from thu
Ners and Courier, on the matter Of schools and
salaries, In reply 10 an article in the Observer
Of March 10Th. s-'.. - shr''tr
Referring again TO tho low salaries fxed BY
the school board In Abbsville County, the
Nsses and Courier says .'7.-s g iiss
This scale Of wages means, rs We showed nj
the time, that . frst-class teacher in Abbeyille
Is paid from $50 to $50 for the three or four
months that the public schools are KEEP. op en-
In AoSsviiis County, aud therefore for the
year. ~ s'or - 90
Our contemporary has never learned ths
simple Lesson that you osn't sss your cake ssd
have II too. We pointed out clearly IN our
first article that II $40 month will run n
school four months, $50 month will run |.
eight months. Nothing could be palmer and
still our contemporary fails to SEQ Il. Some
kids see At once that 2 and mako 4; but
others require to set down two marks in ono
place and two in another, and then 10 count
them oil. That's the kind Of kid our con.
temporary is; and for its benefit We will try to
simplify the process, thus:
certain amount from the school fund is
available every year for the teacher OF pub.
lie school. This amount Is not increased or
diminished BY increasing or diminishing the
teachers monthly salary. Suppose this amount
Is slzo. Can't our contemporary ESQ that IL
the teacher is paid $40 month from the school
fund the amount will last only three months.
whereas If be is paid $40 month Il will last
six monthsi 80 that the matter Ia narrowed
down to tho plain question, is 1t better to paw
the teacher higher salary from tho public
fund and thereby shorten the school term, or
TO pay him smaller salary and lengthen the
term! We insist that the latter alternative in
the better. And in advocating this view, 10
Tar from manifesting prejudice against the
cause OF popular education,' and SO far from
desiring that any child in the State shall grow ]
up In ignorance because Of the poverty Of is
parents we are advocating o plan that would
heip the cause Of popular education, and would
secure advantages to poor children that Ara
new denied them. Let us illustrate: TIL,
Netrs and CourSer insists on q high sa,.rx
(relatively speaking) per month-say $40.
Inc o0'eroer insists on low salary-ssy $50.
Ii the amount available for the teacher for the
year, from the public fund, is $12O, the school
would continue open as . public school three
months under the Neps and Cowier's plan.
And six months under tho O6sausr's plan.
Under the News ,ead cewisr,s plan soma. chill,
[ = i & g. N S
- tHfss month"; becsnse OF The poverty q /
their parents while under the O6server's plan
they could 60 for six months.
There Is another important distinction The |
O6serUers plan is in accordance with the State
Constitution, while the Neps and Courier's
10 not. This is apparent from the reading of |
the following provisions Of the Constitution,
nnder the head Of Education
Art x, SEQ. S.-Thsre shall bs kept spen,
at least siz months in each gear one or more
schools In each school district.
Art. X, Seo' 1O.-All the public schools |
supported in whole or in part by |
the public funds shall be free and open 10 all |
the children and youths Of the State, sto,
1t seems 10 US that the school boards are CON.
additionally bound to keep the schools open |
six months in each year. The only way to do
this is to divide the school fund into six parts
The salary Of teacher then, per month, would |
be one.slxth Of the total amount available for i
his school for the year. II this amount is Sl2O,
his salsry-so far as the public school funds |
ars eoucsrnsd-would be $40 per month.
Aud the board not only have the right in such |
case to cay IL shall not be more, but the Con-
stitufion makes 1t their plain duty to say SO.
Thsre should be . school open in each |
school district at least six months in each year,
from which school no child should be excluded
because Of the poverty Of its parents To &C
complish this the school board is compelled to
allow small salary per month to the teacher.
Suppose this salary per month is only $40.
Nobody is compelled to teach for $50, but the
schools must have teachers. The pa.rous of
the school, or those who are able, can supple
ment this $50, and get good teacher. They
can get 40-dollar-a-month teacher, il they
wish-the State paying $40, and the patrons
$50 and the school would be open six months
In the year to all the children and youths Of
the community, as the Constitution prescribes.
The Ne~s and Courier says;
what 1t The O6serverl desires, apparently,
Is that oil the people shall contribute TO the
school fund, Ia part, lesring to some Of the
people to supplement that fund, in order to
keep the schools going for full term Our
contemporary fails, however, to show the JUS
noe OF this proposed arrangement, and we con-
fsss our inability 70 supply its omission
Precisely 50. That Is just what we desire.
AZ TO tho Justice Of this arrangement, every
one must soc that to deny its jus,iee is to deny
the justice Of the free school system entirely,
for the FREQ school system oompsls some-.hose |
who have property-to pay for 7ths schooling |
Of othcrs-thoss who have none. Indeed, that |
is the basal idea Of the free school system, and
its raison fetre. II everybody were able to
pay for tho schooling OF his children there
would be no reason for tho free schools.
Some Of the people must supplement the